What's New, What's Hot: May 2015

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Jamstik: Engineered to turn an iPhone, iPad or Mac computer into a personal music studio by connecting wirelessly via Wifi, this ultra-portable guitar (it is only 15 inches in length and weighs 2.4 pounds) is perfect for the musician on the go. The wireless Jamstik, which never needs tuning and can duplicate the sound of almost any instrument, has the ability to convert your hotel room into a practice hall. Featuring real strings and frets, the instrument, whose rechargeable lithium-ion battery offers up to 10 hours of use, has an infrared light-sensing fretboard that provides real-time finger placement feedback on your Apple device. Free apps include a virtual tutor and a DJ guitar-remix. $299.99; www.jamstik.com.

While there is no shortage of portable GPS units, the following pair can hold their own with any on the market:

• TomTom Go 500: This portable GPS has a lot going for it, including a 5-inch touch screen; advanced lane guidance to take the guess work out of exiting high-speed expressways; spoken guidance and street names; a USB car charger and magnetic window mount; and a Parking Assist feature that helps locate nearby parking facilities. Other attributes are a fully interactive pinch, zoom and swipe screen; lifetime North America map updates and traffic info; trial-period speed camera alerts (with tethering to a smart phone); a user-friendly address and point-of-interest search interface; and easily identifiable map icons and 3D imaging of buildings and landmarks. A backup battery provides two hours of use and a micro SD slot allows for mapping expansion. $199.99; https://www.tomtom.com.

• Magellan RoadMate 5330T-LM: This reliable nameplate in GPS technology is offering a portable navigator that boasts a 5-inch screen; turn-by-turn spoken guidance; 3D renderings; lifetime U.S and Canada map updates; traffic and speed cam alerts; easily searched points of interest and one-touch shortcuts to favorite destinations and searches; an SD slot; and two-hour battery backup. What Magellan calls Junction View provides helpful and realistic images of freeway signs and arrows that guide you to the proper lane. A SmartDetour feature is designed to provide immediate options when traffic comes to a standstill. The RoadMate line also offers a unit that offers a hands-free speakerphone option if your car does not already provide one. $159.99; www.magellangps.com.

MedCenter Traveler XL: Hitting the road with multiple meds in tow is increasingly the rule rather than the exception for travelers, or so it seems to anyone who has signed on for a land tour and/or cruise with fellow millennials and ever-more-mobile senior citizens. Designed to keep dosage confusion at bay, this compact product has seven large-capacity pill boxes marked with the days of the week for holding up to one-week of medication, with four large capacity cavities in each pill box. The nylon case that contains the seven pill boxes, which measures 7.5 by 1.5 by 6.75 inches, has a velcro-secured safety flap. $24.95; www.medcentersystems.com.

Puro Sound Labs BT2200 Kid-Friendly Headphones: These unique headphones, which fold flat for travel, max out the volume at 85 dBA, which according to the manufacturer is the maximum sound level recommended by audiologists to prevent hearing loss. The Puro headphones, which use durable, lightweight aluminum in the ear pieces and headband (not plastic), block out ambient noise (just the thing for use aboard an airplane), allow for Bluetooth or wired connectivity and have an 18-hour battery life (200 hours of standby). Crafted with 40mm dynamic drivers to provide, in Puro's words, "studio grade audio," the BT 2200 can be optimized to customize the sound with the use of a free Puro EQ ap. $79.99; www.purosound.com.

Mogo Portable Upright Seat: This lightweight, collapsible seat goes where you go so you can sit relatively comfortably while those around you -- say at parades, outdoor free concerts and the like -- have to stand around getting tired and sore feet. Small enough (18 inches long retracted) and light enough (2.6 pounds) to fit easily in a backpack or tote bag, the Mogo extends through three telescoping sections to 37 inches in length (adjustable in 1-inch increments to accommodate most heights). A fiberglass-reinforced seat completes the picture. The Mogo, which is made from aluminum, comes with a reversible rubber base for grass or hard surfaces. The seat is designed to support up to 250 pounds. $99; www.focaluprightfurniture.com.